Closure for cotton gin roll boxes



May 10, 1938. w -r 2,116,823

CLOSURE FOR COTTON GIN ROLL BOXES Filed Sept. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 10, J EWETT 2,116,823

CLOSURE FOR COTTON GIN ROLL BOXES Filed Sept. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 10, 1938 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE v John Blewett, Dallas, Tex., assiznor to The Murray Company, Dallas, Tex, a corporation of Texas Application September 16, 1935,Serial No. 40.703 'lClaimsh (CL 19-55) This invention relates to new and useful im- 1 provements in closures for cotton gin roll boxes. One object of the invention is to provide an improved closure for the roll box of a cotton sin 5 which is arranged to permit ready access to the interior of the box when it is necessary to clean the ginning ribs, or for any other reason. 1

An important object of the invention isto provide an improved closure for thefront of the roll box of a cotton gin which is arranged to be hinged at either its upper or lower end whereby it may be swung either from its upper or lower end, and also being so constructed that; may be completely removed to open the entire front of the roll box. x

Still anotherobject of .the invention is to provide an improved closurefor the frontoi a roll box which is supported by retractible pins at its upper andlower ends, whereby whenthe upper pins are retracted the closure may be swung downwardly with the lower pinsas a pivot, and

when the lower pins are retracted, said closure maybe swung upwardly, the upper pins serving as a pivot, the location of the pins being such'that the box can not enter beneath the open closure to prevent complete closing ofwthe same. C A further objectof the invention 'is to provide an improved closure for the rollgbox of a cotton gin having retractible means for holding the same in a closed position, said retractible means being arranged to engage the gin frame,

40 when the lower end of the closure has beenswung to an open position, said means thereby holding said closure in such open position. c c

A still further object of the invention is to pro- 4 vide an improved closure for a roll box which is frame, whereby all bolts, nuts and other holding means which necessitate the use of tools are eliminated.

vention will be hereinafter described, together with other features oi the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

mounted on retractible pins engaging the gin" t A construction designed to carry out the inwhich an exampleof the invention is shown, and wherein: 1

Figure 1 is a, transverse, vertical sectional view of a cotton gin, having aclosure constructed in accordance with the invention, closing its roll 5 box,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l,

Figure-3151s an isometric view of one end of the closure, y 10 Figure 4 is an enlargeddetail view of (meet the retractible pins and its mounting,

Figurefi is an isometric view of one of the pins, and" Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the closure showing the same swung downm \vardly, the other positions of said closure being shownin dotted lines. r

, Inthe drawings, the numeral l0 designates an ordinary cotton "gin which may be of the usual 20 construction. The gin has the usual outer pivoted gin breast ll, ginning saws l2, ginning ribs l3 andhuller ribs II. The roll box A is formed above the ginning saws and ribs in the usual way. The front of the gin breast II is removable and is generallyknown as the outer front, The

frontoi the rollbox is usually closed'by an inner fron't'which is removable also so as to permit access tothe interior of the roll box.

in Figures 2 and 3, is formedof a pair of curved,

flanged end members I1, which are constructed of metal or other suitable material. The end members are preferably cast but may be constructedvin any desired way.

A curved plate It extends between the members and has its upper and lower ends bent upon itself to form elongated channels l9 at the upper and lower ends of said plate. A complementary outer plate 20 is welded or otherwise secured to the plate and overlies the same. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the outer plate serves to res tain the ends of the inner plate in their bent position. Both ;plates are then secured to the end members ll by rivets, or-other means, whereby an elongated curved closure for the roll box A is formed. If desired, the outer Plate 22 may be bent upwardly to form a longitudinal rib 2| throughout its length,-whereby rigidity will be added to the structure.

For mounting the closure between the side walls iii of the gin breast ll, an elongated, tubular casing 22 is inserted in the upper channel 19 of the sheet i8. The ends of the casing terminate adjacent the side flanges ll of the end members ll of the closure (Figure 2), and the casing is suitably fastened in the channel. It may have a tight fit and be driven therein.

A plunger 23 is mounted at each end of the casing and is slidable therein. The outer end of each plunger is formed with a reduced pin 24, whereby an annular shoulder 25 is provided. The reduced pin extends from the end of the casing and passes through an opening 28 (Figure 4) in the side flange ll of the end member II. The extreme outer end of said pin is arranged to engage in an opening 21 formed in the side wall I of the gin breast.

The pin is normally held in engagement with said opening, with the annular shoulder 28 about the inner side of the flange l'l' by a coiled spring 28 which is confined within the casing 22 between the inner end of the plunger 23 and a transverse pin 29 which extends across said casing. Thus, it will be obvious that the springs exert their pressure to hold the plungers in their outer positions (Figure 2) with the reduced pins 24 engaging in the openings 21 in the side walls 01' the gin breast. The engagement of the annular shoulder 25 of each plunger with inner side of the flange ll prevents the displacement or said plunger from the casing. It is noted that when thepins are within the openings 21, the upper end 01' closure is attached to the breast II.

For locking the pins within the openings, each plunger 23 is provided with a radially extending thumb bolt 30 which projects outwardly and is slidable within a slot 3| (Figure 3) formed in the outer side of the channel IS. The slot is provided with ofiset notches 32 at each end thereof and the I bolt 30 is so located on the plunger. that when the.

pin 24 is engaging in the opening" 21, said bolt is opposite the outer notch 32. A slight rotation of the plunger causes the bolt to enter said notch, and it will be seen that said plunger cannot be moved to disengage the pin from the opening 21 until such time as the thumb bolt ismoved from said outer notch. I I

When said bolt is disengaged from the outer notch, the plunger may then be slid inwardly under tension of the coiled spring 22, and after the pin 24 is retracted from the opening 27, the thumb bolt may be swung into the inner onset notch 32, whereby the plunger may be locked in a retracted position.

From the above, it will be seen that the upper end of the closure is supported in the side walls of the gin breast II, by the retractible plungers 23. The lower end of said closure is supported by similar plungers 23' which are mounted in the ends 01' a casing 22' located within the lower channel l9. These plungers are provided with It will-be seen that the closure is mounted between the side walls of the gin breast to close the front 01' the roll box A. With the upper plungers 23 and the lower plunger 23' in their outer positions, the pins 24 and 24' engage their respective openings 21 and 21 in the side walls l6. Assuming the thumb bolts 30 and 30' to be engaged in the oflset notches, it will be seen that the closure is securely locked in position.

In ginning wet cotton, or under other conditions, the girming ribs l3 may become clogged and it is necessary to reach within the roll box A to clean said ribs. It is only necessary, after the outer front of the breast I I has been removed, for the operator to grasp the thumb bolts 22, one in each hand, and retract the upper plunger 23 to disengage the pins 24 from the openings 2'I.-

' ly. Due to the curve of the inner side of said closure and also to the fact that the closure is hinged on the pins, any seed which might have accumulated on the inner face of said closure while the same was open, will fall from said closure as it moves to a closed position. It is noted that there is no possibility of the accumulated seed interfering with the closing by falling into the hinge, as is the case in some closures now in use.

The curve of the closure positively guides the seedback into the roll box.

In some cases, it is desirable to swing the closure upwardly completely out of.the operator's way so that the interior roll box is easily accessible. In such cases the upper plungers 23 remain in their outer position so that their pins 24 remain within their respective opening 2] in the side walls IS. The lower plungers 23' are retracted so that their pins'24' are disengaged vfrom the openings 21', so that the closure may be swung upwardly as shown by dotted lines in Figure 6.

If desired, after the lower end of the closure has been swung above the top of the side walls It the plungers can be again moved outwardly so that the pins 24' rest upon the top edge oi! said side walls to prevent downward movement of the closure until such time as the plungers 23' are again-retracted. It is noted that this action is automatic if the thumb bolts 30' are not engaged with the inner oifset notch 32' when the plungers 23' are first retracted to disengage the pins 24' from the openings 21', for it is obvious that during the upward swinging, the outer edge of the 12111524 will ride against the inner side or the.

walls i6, being held so by the coiled springs 28'. As soon as the pins clear the upper end of said walls, said spring will immediately move them outwardly.

From the above, it will be seen that the closure may be either swung upwardly or downwardly depending on whether the upper or lower pins are retracted from their respective openings. If the upper pins are retracted, the lower pins form the hinge, and vice versa. The disengagement oi the pins may be readily accomplished by one operator who can grasp one of the thumb bolts in each hand and swing the closure. Heretofore, the removal of the front of the roll box required at least two men. The swinging from either the top or bottom of the closure permits ready access to the interior of the roll box A for any purpose.

In some cases, it is desirable to entirely remove the closure, and when this is necessary, both sets of pins 24 and 24 are retracted from the openings and the entire closure may be removed.

It is noted that the closure is fastened in place by the retractible pins which may be easily operated by hand. No nuts, bolts. or other'comparatively permanent means lsemployed. This eliminates the use of any kind of tools and saves a great deal of time and labor on the part of the gin operator.

It is noted that the particular structure of the closure is subject to variation and it is not necessary to make the closure of the end members and plates, but all these parts could, if desired,

be made integral. ,It is further pointed out that the closure may be attached to any ordinary cotton gin having the roll box A above the ginning saws and ribs.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a curved member extending longitudinally across the front of'said roll box to close the same, retractible locking means resiliently biased toward their locking position carried by the upper end of the member and engaging the walls of the gin breast for pivotally supporting the upper end of the same, and similar retractible locking means resiliently biased toward their locking position for pivotally supporting the lower end of the member, and means independently operable for retracting both the upper and lower retractible means. whereby the member may be either swung downwardly from its upper end or swung upwardly from its lower end, or may be entirely disengaged from the breast, the curve of the member being such that when the upper means has been retracted to permit downward swinging of the member, the seed within the roll box is prevented from entering the hinge o! the member, whereby interference by. the seed with the closing of said member is eliminated.

2. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a curved member extending longitudinally across the front of said roll box to close the same, retractible means carried by the upper end of the member and engaging the walls of the gin breast for pivotally supporting the upper end of the same, and similar retractible means for pivotally supporting the lower end of the member, and means for retracting both theupper and lower retractible means, whereby the member may be either swung downwardly from its upper end or swung upwardly from its lower end, or may be entirely disengaged from the breast, the curve of the member being such that when the upper means has been retracted to permit downward swinging of the member, the seed within the roll box is prevented from entering the hinge of the member, whereby interference by the seed with the closing of said member is eliminated, the location of the lower retractible means being such that when the member is swung upwardly, said means will engage the upper edge of the side walls of the gin breast to hold said member in an open position.

3. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a closure member extending longitudinally between the end walls of the gin breast across the front of said roll box to close the same, a pair of spring-pressed plungers at the upper opposite corner portions of said closure member and extending outwardly from the ends thereof for engaging in openings in said end walls to support the upper end portions of the member, similar spring-pressed plungers at the lower corners of the member for engaging openings in the walls of said gin breast to support the lower end portions of the member, means on each plunger for retracting the same to disengage it from its opening, and means for releasably retaining the plungers in their extended and retracted positions.

4. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a longitudinally extending member arranged to close the forward end of said box, separate retractible means for supporting the upper opposite corner portions of said member, separate retractible means for supporting the lower opposite corner portions of said member, and means for releasably retaining said retractible means in either their extended or retracted positions.

5. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a removable closure member extending longitudinally between the end walls of the gin breast across the front of said roll box to close the same, separate retractible means on said closure member engaging the walls of the gin breast for pivotally supporting the upper end of the member, similar retractible means for pivotally supporting the lower opposite corner portions of the member, whereby either the upper or lower means may be retracted at will to permit the closure member to be swung either upwardly from its lower end or downwardly from its upper end, and means for releasably retaining said retractible means in either their extended or retracted positions.

6. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a removable closure member extending longitudinally between the opposite end walls of the gin breast across the box to close the same, and retractible independently operable locking means mounted on each end corner portion of said closure member and resiliently projected into supporting engagement with the contiguous end wall portions of the gin breast whereby to releasably lock said member in place and to hingedly support said member near either longitudinal side when the locking means near the opposite longitudinal side is retracted from engagement with the wall portions of the gin breast.

7. A closure for the roll box of a cotton gin including, a removable closure member extending longitudinally between the opposite end walls of the gin breast across the box to close the same, and separate retractible and independently operable bolts mounted on the opposite end corner portions of the closure member and being spring-pressed and normally urged to project into openings provided therefor in the contiguous breast end wall portions whereby said closure member is releasably locked in place to be removable as a unit, at will, and is hingedly supported at its opposite end corner portions at either side when only the bolts at the other side are retracted from the openings in the contiguous wall portions, and reversely when only the other bolts are retracted.

JOHN BLEWETT. 

